Balancing Form and Function - Recommendations for Beginners that Want Flowering Trees

[BrodoSwaggins]

Hi there! Complete novice here asking for some advice on where to start with bonsai.

I want to gift my wife a flowering bonsai tree for our 4th anniversary. She loves cut flowers but hates how costly they can be when they only remain beautiful for a couple weeks, so I thought about investing in a plant that could flower repeatedly and become a hobby. I would love to find a flowering tree for her to admire, but I am struggling with balancing the form and function -- do I get an easy to care for Ficus or Jade that has no flowers or do I get a tropical that is more difficult but more rewarding (Fukien, Barbados cherry, Chinese Sweet Plum/Sageretia)?

I would prefer something that could be indoors (not always, but often?) so she can enjoy it easier. We live in zone 8a/b so we rarely see significant frost/freeze periods.

P.S. I read a good portion of both the "Why you cannot keep bonsai trees indoors" and "How to be a successful bonsai beginner" before posting. I recognize that a few species can subsist in indoor conditions but will not thrive unless allowed to experience outdoor elements during growing season.

Thanks in advance!

 

[penumbra]

If you have plants, that is a start. If you don't, get a ficus. Don't put it on your wife.... its not about flowers, most of which are sacrificed on the development of a bonsai.

 

[NashsMan]

Murraya paniculata could be a good choice for you (and your wife!). It's a sub-tropical Indian shrub or small tree that cann bloom several times a year AND the flowers smell very sweet like gardenia.

 

[BrianBay9]

There are many flowering trees that make good bonsai. The "inside" requirement is the hard part. If you get a few, then you can rotate them inside for a few days each, while still providing the outdoor growth they need. Flowering bonsai you might consider:

Azaleas
Loripetalum (fringe flower)
pyracantha (also has long lasting red or orange berries)
plum
cherry
crepe myrtle
crab apple

I'm sure people will add other suggestions.

 

[Attmos]

There are many flowering trees that make good bonsai. The "inside" requirement is the hard part. If you get a few, then you can rotate them inside for a few days each, while still providing the outdoor growth they need. Flowering bonsai you might consider:

Azaleas
Loripetalum (fringe flower)
pyracantha (also has long lasting red or orange berries)
plum
cherry
crepe myrtle
crab apple

I'm sure people will add other suggestions.

That's a great suggestion.

 

[KateM]

Murraya paniculata could be a good choice for you (and your wife!). It's a sub-tropical Indian shrub or small tree that cann bloom several times a year AND the flowers smell very sweet like gardenia.

I second Murraya paniculata - easy to care for, blooms often, smells good.

 

[Wood]

I'd suggest Japanese Snowbell. It grows quickly and blooms in May/June on new wood. It is very forgiving of mistakes, heals wounds and wire scars pretty easily, and thickens up nicely in a pot

 

[rockm]

Hi there! Complete novice here asking for some advice on where to start with bonsai.

I want to gift my wife a flowering bonsai tree for our 4th anniversary. She loves cut flowers but hates how costly they can be when they only remain beautiful for a couple weeks, so I thought about investing in a plant that could flower repeatedly and become a hobby. I would love to find a flowering tree for her to admire, but I am struggling with balancing the form and function -- do I get an easy to care for Ficus or Jade that has no flowers or do I get a tropical that is more difficult but more rewarding (Fukien, Barbados cherry, Chinese Sweet Plum/Sageretia)?

I would prefer something that could be indoors (not always, but often?) so she can enjoy it easier. We live in zone 8a/b so we rarely see significant frost/freeze periods.

P.S. I read a good portion of both the "Why you cannot keep bonsai trees indoors" and "How to be a successful bonsai beginner" before posting. I recognize that a few species can subsist in indoor conditions but will not thrive unless allowed to experience outdoor elements during growing season.

Thanks in advance!

Think twice about giving bonsai as an unannounced gift. Like puppies and kittens they require care from the recipient. Saddling someone with something that will die if left unattended isn’t the best thing to do

Bonsai are very much like pets. Typically initial trees die because of mistakes or neglect They’re extra responsibility and the recipient may not want that extra R

I’d run the idea by her before buying anything.

 

[BrodoSwaggins]

@rockm and @Bonsai Nut Thank you for the warnings! I appreciate how these are needy beings and am perfectly willing to undertake the care myself.

 

[rockm]

Hi there! Complete novice here asking for some advice on where to start with bonsai.

I want to gift my wife a flowering bonsai tree for our 4th anniversary. She loves cut flowers but hates how costly they can be when they only remain beautiful for a couple weeks, so I thought about investing in a plant that could flower repeatedly and become a hobby. I would love to find a flowering tree for her to admire, but I am struggling with balancing the form and function -- do I get an easy to care for Ficus or Jade that has no flowers or do I get a tropical that is more difficult but more rewarding (Fukien, Barbados cherry, Chinese Sweet Plum/Sageretia)?

I would prefer something that could be indoors (not always, but often?) so she can enjoy it easier. We live in zone 8a/b so we rarely see significant frost/freeze periods.

P.S. I read a good portion of both the "Why you cannot keep bonsai trees indoors" and "How to be a successful bonsai beginner" before posting. I recognize that a few species can subsist in indoor conditions but will not thrive unless allowed to experience outdoor elements during growing season.

Thanks in advance!

FWIW the request for a species that can be inside and outside is not really possible to keep a tree healthy. In moving it inside and outside for days at a time takes a toll. Trees evolved being rooted in one place. They have trouble moving. Moving changes the environment and the accompanying physical requirements like respiration. Leaf productivity photosynthetic cycles and capabilities etc (lower light on leaves developed in a high light environment won’t work indoors and vice versa.

 

[BrianBay9]

FWIW the request for a species that can be inside and outside is not really possible to keep a tree healthy. In moving it inside and outside for days at a time takes a toll. Trees evolved being rooted in one place. They have trouble moving. Moving changes the environment and the accompanying physical requirements like respiration. Leaf productivity photosynthetic cycles and capabilities etc (lower light on leaves developed in a high light environment won’t work indoors and vice versa.

While this is true, we do move trees in and out, and if done thoughtfully they tolerate the moves. We put trees in shows that often includes time in box trucks to and from. Many people display trees in indoor tokanoma for a few days.. It's really a matter of degree

 

[Paradox]

Keep in mind that most flowering plants flower for a short period of time each year then dont again until the following year

 

[roberthu]

Wanting to keep something indoor for more than half of the time is very challenging. If we are talking about a couple of days a month, then it's much easier.

 

[rusticana]

I do this with certain trees. Ones that range into the subtropics. Most will need really good light exposure through winter. Also I keep my place on the cooler side wich I believe helps. They end up getting a little sparse and apreciate getting back out there. Carefully otherwise they can get easily scorched. Wich tells you the difference in light intensity. Trees will mainly bloom on their regular schedule. So they may not bloom over the winter months? The jasmine one is a good for this. Mine is not a bonsai but I get 2 blooms per year with my indoor plants under lights. Other flowering bonsai I have indoor/outdoor are pomegranate and serissa. They both can bloom a second time but not significantly. The pomegranate is nice cause the little red fruits stay on so long (actually they have to be removed) But I would not recomend either of those trees for a beginner

 

[rockm]

While this is true, we do move trees in and out, and if done thoughtfully they tolerate the moves. We put trees in shows that often includes time in box trucks to and from. Many people display trees in indoor tokanoma for a few days.. It's really a matter of degree

This doesn’t sound like a few days inside. Sounds like more but who knows. Must also add that trees inside in shows can show their unhappiness after and during

 

[BrianBay9]

This doesn’t sound like a few days inside. Sounds like more but who knows. Must also add that trees inside in shows can show their unhappiness after and during

Of course you're right. But generally they tolerate the experience.

I've no idea what the OP's plans were, but if he can limit inside exposure to a few days at a time, they can enjoy an indoor display.

 

[BrodoSwaggins]

Of course you're right. But generally they tolerate the experience.

I've no idea what the OP's plans were, but if he can limit inside exposure to a few days at a time, they can enjoy an indoor display.

Thanks for giving me the benefit of the doubt!

My desire is to obtain a tree that a) flowers, b) can be kept indoors periodically without intensive lighting setups, and c) is relatively forgiving in my climate zone. I have identified a few good outdoor spots for a tree to live while in the growing season and am working on picking the best south-ish facing window for the cooler season. I like the idea of having short periods indoors during the growing season for better admiration -- our outdoor spots aren't particularly visible from indoors.

I have been reading that Carmonas/Fukiens and Serissas are a bit finnicky, so I am wondering if a plum variety (Natal, Chinese Sweet) or olive could be appropriate.

 

[penumbra]

I have been reading that Carmonas/Fukiens and Serissas are a bit finnicky, so I am wondering if a plum variety (Natal, Chinese Sweet) or olive could be appropriate.

I have had my Fukien for 7 or 8 years now, but Serissa did not work for me. I had a stunning Natal Plum, but it died. Serissa is the only one of these three that has nice blooms. My Fukien blooms constantly and the flowers are very messy and understated.

 

[BrodoSwaggins]

I have had my Fukien for 7 or 8 years now, but Serissa did not work for me. I had a stunning Natal Plum, but it died. Serissa is the only one of these three that has nice blooms. My Fukien blooms constantly and the flowers are very messy and understated.

Well kudos for the thriving Fukien! My research over the last couple of days have gotten me a little leery about attempting that as our first tree. Sorry to hear about the plum, though -- any ideas for why it petered out?

And yeah, Serissas look super enticing visually but seem to be among the harder flowering plants to maintain.

 

[rockm]

I got started partially because of an awesome large Natal plum bonsai my mom got as a gift in the 80’s. It was a double turn three feet tall and had a trunk as thick as a brooms handle

It was tough as nails, liked to be cut back strongly and loved full sun. It’s pot for 25 years always an inch and a half deep Chinese imported pot.

In the summer (the plant lived in house in NJ, NC and Texas.) the tree would be out in full sun in a shallow 1/2 deep aluminum pan filled with water. Yeah shouldn’t have worked but the tree soaked the water up sometime twice a day (in the Texas sun) it bloomed a lot and produced plums every summer

In the winter it came inside the house and placed in brightest location available usually in front of the of a south facing sliding glass door. It was rarely watered just enough to keep the soil from drying out

It was never root pruned which eventually mounded the soil six inches high as the roots piled up underneath.

The tree survived largely because it got a lot of benign neglect and no body wanted to prune the roots. Another was “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.”